A08486:49
A famous and godly history containing the lives a[nd] acts of three renowned reformers…A famous and godly history contaynyng the lyues a[nd] actes of three renowmed reformers…
A famous and godly history containing the lives a[nd] acts of three renowned reformers of the Christia[n] Church, Martin Luther, John Ecolampadius, and Huldericke Zuinglius. The declaration of Martin Luther's faith before the Emperor Charles the fifth, and the illustre estates of the empire of Germany, with an oration of his death, all set forth in Latin by Philip Melanchthon, Wolfgangus Faber, Capito. Simon Grineus, [and] Oswald Miconus, newly Englished by Henry Bennet Callesian.A famous and godly history contaynyng the lyues a[nd] actes of three renowmed reformers of the Christia[n] Church, Martine Luther, Iohn Ecolampadius, and Huldericke Zuinglius. The declaracion of Martin Luthers faythe before the Emperoure Charles the fyft, and the illustre estates of the empyre of Germanye, with an oration of hys death, all set forth in Latin by Philip Melancthon, Wolfgangus Faber, Capito. Simon Grineus, [and] Oswald Miconus, newly Englished by Henry Bennet Callesian.
London: printed by John Awdely, 1561London: printed by Iohn Awdely, 1561
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
We know that politic men evermore, detested all changes, and we1 must confess, there ensueth some evil of dissensions, yea truly moved for right good causes in this horrible confusion of humane life, and yet it is our duty evermore in the Church, to advance Gods ordinance above humane constitutions. The eternal father pronounced this voice of his Son: This is my well-beloved Son ⟨image 17⟩hear him. And menaceth eternal wrath to all blasphemers, that is such as endeavour to abolish the manifest verity. And therefore Luther did as behoved a Christian faithfully to do, considering he was an Instructor of the Church of God. It was his office (I say) to reprehend pernicious errors which Epicures table, with a monstrous impudence heaped one upon an other, and it was expedient his Auditors dissented not from his opinion, since he taught purely. Wherefore if alteration be hateful, and many perils grow of dissension, as we certainly see many, whereof we be right sorry: they are in fault partly that spread abroad these errors, and partly that with devilish disdain presently maintain them.
We know that politike men euermore, detested all chaunges, and we1 must confesse, ther ensueth some euil of dissencions, yea trulye moued for ryght good causes in thys horryble confusion of humayne lyfe, and yet it is our duty euermore in the Church, to aduaunce Gods ordinaunce aboue humayne constitucions. The eternal father pronounced thys voyce of hys sonne: This is my welbeloued sonne ⟨image 17⟩heare hym. And menaceth eternall wrath to al blasphemers, that is such as endeuour to abolishe the manifest verity. And therefore Luther dyd as behoued a Christian faithfully to do, considering he was an Instructor of the Church of God. It was hys office (I say) to reprehed pernicious errors whych Epicures table, wyth a monstrous impudencye heaped one vpon an other, and it was expedient hys Auditors dissented not from hys opinion, synce he taught purely. Wherfore if alteracion be hatefull, and many peryls grow of dissention, as we certaynly see manye, whereof we be ryght sory: they are in fault partlye that spread abroade these errors, and partly that wyth diuelyshe dysdayne presently mayntayne them.